aoe Kossk, The Rufous Hummingbird. 9 
The average yearly rainfall is about 53 inches which is distributed 
- abundantly in autumn, winter, and spring, in dews, fogs, rains, 
and occasional snows. This amount of rain is not remarkable, 
being about the same as at Philadelphia; but since it all falls 
in about six months or less, it appears to be much greater for 
the entire year than it really is. 
The result of this wet climate is best seen in the vegetation, 
which is remarkably luxuriant and green the year round. The 
entire cape is thus overgrown and where space has not been 
cleared by the government for a military settlement we find 
giant spruces and firs standing. Mr. R. H. Lawrence has 
described this country with such vividness that I cannot resist 
using his own words. He says, this whoie region “is densely 
covered with a heavy growth of large timber — fir, hemlock, 
spruce, and cedar. The firs and spruces grow to be giants: it 
is usual to see them from four to seven feet in diameter, and 
over two hundred feet high. Underneath these great trees is 
generally a thick growth of vine-maple, hemlock, large and small, 
alder, etc., the ground being a network of ferns, vines, bushes, 
and brush, with fallen giant trees here and there in all stages of 
decay. On all this much moss grows; and long festoons hang 
from the branches of the standing trees. Except in the few dry 
weeks of midsummer, the bushes and ferns are generally wet. 
With one’s face spattered with raindrops and cobwebs, and with 
an unsure footing, itis no wonder progress is slow through such 
a tangle.” ! With the exception of the extreme end, the cape is 
thus an unbroken wilderness. The tip, or end, is occupied by a 
military post with accommodations for about one hundred men 
who constitute the entire population. The nearest town is 
Ilwaco, which lies on the bay about three miles distant, and which 
is simply a small fishing village consisting of but one main street. 
The military post is known as Fort Canby, being named after 
General Canby, the famous Indian fighter. At this place I lived 
for two years, where my father was commanding officer for that 
length of time, giving me ample opportunity to study the bird 
life of the cape. 
1 Auk, Vol. IX, 1892, pp. 39, 40. 
